Clint Dempsey grabbed the headlines with his two goal game against Wigan, but Tim Howard and Marcus Hahnemann also came up with huge wins in a full weekend of English action.

Fulham 2 - 0 Wigan

Clint Dempsey came up trumps for Fulham as they cruised past Wigan in the first half with the American scoring both goals.

Fulhalm were finally rewarded for their good performances as of late with a solid victory over their direct competitors, but fellow American Eddie Johnson was not selected to make the bench.

The scoring started half an hour in with Carlos Salcido picking up possession near the left corner flag.

Dempsey was given space for a running start before the American smashed home his header on a delightful cross from his fellow midfielder to get the scoring started.

Chris Baird got into an advanced position just before half time, supplying in a dangerous ball that the Wigan defense could not deal with.

Dempsey once again reacted fastest, wasting no time with a one touch shot, hitting it on frame as it flew past Ali Al Habsi to wrap up all three points.

No yellow cards were issued in the match, as Dempsey will look to do it again against compatriot Brad Friedel as Aston Villa travel to Craven Cottage next Saturday.

Everton 1 - 0 Stoke City

Tim Howard was forced to make a few key saves as Everton pushed on to win a vital home game against Stoke City.

Matthew Etherington continued to ask questions of the American keeper, but Stoke did have a goal called back on the hour mark.

A dangerous ball in ended on the feet of Sanli Tuncay with only Leighton Baines to beat. Tuncay was adjudged to had bundled over the Everton man en route to scoring his goal, resulting in a calling back of the goal for a foul.

Just seven minutes later Everton got their break through with Tim Cahill and Yakubu Aiyegbeni linking up.

Cahill beat Asmir Begovic but his shot beat off the post, which fell kindly to Yakubu.

Wasting little time the front man teed himself up and blasted his shot into the top of Begovic's goal for the game winner.

Baines was the only Everton man booked, with Stoke midfielder Marc Wilson also picking up a yellow. Up next for the Toffees is an away trim to Blackpool next Saturday.

Wolverhampton 2 - 1 Manchester City

Marcus Hahnemann was only beaten once as Wolverhampton Wanderers pulled out a huge victory over Manchester City at home.

It was all one way traffic early on with Manchester City pressing the Wolves back line.

For all of their fire power however, Hahnemann was rarely tested as most of the shots ended up either high or wide.

City's chance finally came in the 22nd minute when George Boateng's ball into David Silva forced Richard Stearman into a sliding tackle with the former Valencia man drawing the penalty decision.

Emmanuel Adebayor stepped up to sink the resulting spot kick.

Going behind only gave Wolves more energy as the home team kicked on to find the equalizer seven minutes later.

Having already hit the woodwork twice, Nenad Milijas evened things up in the 30th minute.

Matthew Jarvis picked out the midfielder in the middle who let rip with a first time volley that Joe Hart could only get fingers to as he pushed it further into the net.

Just three minutes from the hour mark Wolves had completed the turn around with David Edwards getting the game winner.

Kevin Doyle latched on to a volley which sent Hart to the ground, but the shot deflected off of Yaya Toure and to the feet of Edwards who slotted home the goal that saw all three points stay with Wolves.

Stephen Hunt was booked for the home team, while Mario Balotelli and Pablo Zabaleta were both booked for City.

Up next for Wolves is an even bigger task, an away trip to Manchester United.

Aston Villa 0 - 0 Birmingham City

Neither team had what it took to break the deadlock but Brad Friedel was able to rack up another shutout in front of his home supporters.

The American shot stopper had to be focused 25 minutes in when a long range shot asked questions of him, but he was able to deal with it quite comfortably.

Birmingham also fashioned a chance through Keith Fahey, but Friedel was able to smother the creative attempt.

Ben Foster was forced to come up big once in the 80th minute, but for most of the game it was all one way action with Friedel being forced into multiple saves.

Nigel Reo-Coker and Stephen Warnock were both booked for Villa, while Scott Dann, Craig Gardner, and Nikola Zigic were all booked for Birmingham.

Brad Guzan and Eric Lichaj were both on the bench for Villa, who travel to Craven Cottage to take on Clint Dempsey's Fulham.

Bolton 0 - 1 Liverpool

Stuart Holden was unlucky to be denied midway through the first half as the American's teammates were unable to pull out the home win over Liverpool.

Holden unleashed a fierce volley in the 23rd minute that forced Pepe Reina into a diving save.

The game was won with four minutes to go when Maxi Rodriguez toe-poked home the game winner.

Lucas played the ball into Fernando Torres who's back heel flick on went throughout the legs of Gary Cahill and onto Rodriguez.

Jussi Jaaskelainen was able to get hands to it, but the ball deflected under and behind the goal keeper for the game winning goal.

Matthew Taylor and Gretar Rafn Steinsson were both booked for Bolton, while Paul Konchesky and Martin Skrtel were both booked for Liverpool.

Up next for Bolton is a home visit from Tottenham Hotspur.

Carlisle United 1-1 Bristol Rovers

Frank Simek and Mike Grella both featured as Carlisle United tied Bristol in League One action.

Both Americans started and went the full ninety minutes for the Cumbrians.

Carlisle were close to a dramatic last minute victory when they were awarded a penalty kick in the closing moments of the game. Bristol's goalie Mikkel Andersen though denied Gary Madine, preserving the tie for the Rovers.

Chris Lines put Bristol ahead in the 48th minute with a header and what looked to be the game-winning goal.

Grella though scored in the 87th minute after he finished a cross from Ben Marshall.

Bristol's Stuart Cambell, Gary Sawyer and Jeff Hughes were booked. James Berrett, tom Taiwo and Lubomir Michalik received yellow cards for the Cumbrians.

Carlisle takes on Tranmere Rovers in midweek action while Bristol also plays Tuesday against Plymouth.

Notes:

Jonathan Spector was not named to the bench in West Ham's 1-0 away loss to Arsenal.

Conor Doyle did not feature as Derby County beat Watford.

Anton Peterlin did not make the bench as Plymouth lost to Oldham Athletic.